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The 'Skins Ain't Dead Yet

A convincing win over the Eagles keeps hope alive

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LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Redskins stiff arms defensive end Jason Babin #93 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at FedEx Field on November 18, 2012 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Redskins and Eagles entered Week 11 with identical 3-6 records but after 60 minutes of football it was clear that the teams were headed in different directions. Washington crushed Philadelphia 31-6 in a game that featured outstanding performances by pretty much anyone not wearing an Eagles uniform.

DeAngelo Hall, who might be the luckiest person on the planet, literally had a contested pass to Eagles tight end Brent Celek fall into his hands on the game's third play. He returned it to the Philly 9-yard line, and two plays later, Robert Griffin III lobbed a touchdown pass to Darrel Young for the first of four Washington touchdown passes on the afternoon.

By the time it was over RGIII had completed 14-of-15 passes for 200 yards and four scores. He also added 84 yards on the ground. It was as efficient a performance as you'll see by anybody -- rookie, grizzled veteran, future Hall of Famer.

“He’s a great player,” said Aldrick Robinson, who hauled in 49-yard pass from Griffin with precisely zero Eagles defenders in coverage on the play (via Comcast SportsNet by way of the Sports Bog). “We all know that by now. …Today he just dominated. I feel like he dominated the game today.”

We'd imagine the Eagles felt similarly.

Some other RGIII highlights:

* Best rookie passer rating in a game - 158.2, 1st
* Most rushing yards in a game by player with 4 passing TDs - 84, 2nd
* Most wins by rookie Redskins QB - 4, 1st

Two weeks ago, following a disheartening loss to the Panthers, coach Mike Shanahan sounded like he was ready to give up on the season. He may or may not have meant exactly that but Griffin headed into the bye week with one goal: return a better quarterback. It's one thing to say if you're Rex Grossman or John Beck, but RGIII had been playing at a pretty high level through the first two months of the season.

But after less-than-stellar efforts against the Steelers and Panthers, Griffin kept his word and the Eagles were the unwitting victims.

“I know my mind-set wasn’t completely changed [after the bye], but I was more energized to come back and [win] however many games in a row we need to win to make it to the playoffs,” Griffin said according to the Washington Post. “I didn’t second-guess what my instincts were telling me -- when to throw, when not to throw, when to run, when not to run, when to get down, when to get out of bounds.”

Even Shanahan, who sometimes looks like he's incapable of smiling, made with the jokes when asked about Griffin's performance.

“Except for that one incompletion,” he said, “I thought he did okay.”

Remember: tip your waitresses, try the veal and, oh, the Redskins are back in the mix in the NFC East.